UPDATED 1/5/16: Charges have now been filed against the four suspects, the Chicago Sun Timesreported Thursday. Jordan Hall, 18; Tesfaye Cooper, 18; Brittany Covington, 28; and Tanishia Covington, 24, will appear in bond court Friday. They each face charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and hate crime. Additionally, Hill is facing robbery, residential burglary, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle charges. Cooper and Covington, meanwhile, will also face residential burglary charges.
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Four suspects are in custody after a video of a man being tied up and tortured was streamed via Facebook Live on Tuesday, according to reports.
The disturbing footage showed a group of people kicking and hitting a young white male who appeared to have duct tape over his mouth. The suspects in the video could be heard yelling “fuck Donald Trump” and “fuck white people” during the attack, which was filmed by a young black woman in in Chicago.
During a press conference Wednesday night, Chicago Police said they became aware of the video Tuesday afternoon, shortly before they encountered the victim walking at 3400 W. Lexington and realized he was in distress. Cpt. Steven Sesso said the young man was taken to the hospital to receive treatment.
"At the same time, there were some individuals from another incident that were taken into custody at roughly the same address," Sesso told reporters during the press conference. "The officers, working hand in hand, were able to put together the fact that the individual in distress was missing from one of our suburbs and considered an endangered missing.”
Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the young man, who reportedly has “mental health challenges,” is recovering from attack. Police have yet to release the names of the suspects, two male and two female adults.
“I’ve said time and time again that if you commit an act of violence in the city of Chicago, you will feel the full weight of the Chicago Police Department,” Johnson said at the press conference. “And tonight, four individuals have experienced the consequences of their actions [...] It’s sickening. It makes you wonder what would make individuals treat somebody like that. I’ve been a cop for 28 years and I’ve seen things you shouldn’t see in a lifetime, but it still amazes me how you still things you just shouldn’t. I’m not going to say it shocked me, but it was sickening.”
Officers are continuing to investigate the attack. The suspects are expected to be charged within the next 24 hours.
